Faculty Handbook
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VIII. D. RESEARCH MISCONDUCT POLICY
(Source: Approved by the Reed Faculty, April 13, 2015)
Research Misconduct Policy
1. Preamble
Reed College’s Mission statement describes the College as committed to “the intrinsic value of intellectual pursuit and governed by the highest standards of scholarly practice, critical thought, and creativity.” Consistent with this commitment, the College holds its faculty, research staff and students to the highest ethical standards in the conduct of research. Reed College investigates allegations of research misconduct with due care for the rights of those accused, those making the allegations and the College itself.
This policy is intended to fulfill the responsibilities laid upon the College by Public Health Service Policies on Research Misconduct (including 42 CFR Part 93), as well as the applicable regulations on research misconduct of other federal agencies. The policy applies, however, to all faculty, research staff and students engaged in research at Reed College, and not just those engaged in federally funded research.
This policy will be made available to members of the Reed community and the public on the Dean of Faculty’s website.
2. Scope and Definitions
This policy outlines the procedures to be followed in response to allegations of research misconduct brought against Reed faculty, research staff or students. In the case of students, if the work involved has been produced as part of a course, the procedures in Chapter VI of the Faculty Code should be followed.
Research misconduct means (1) fabrication, falsification or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results, or (2) material failure to comply with federal requirements for the protection of human or animal research subjects.
The following do not constitute research misconduct:
- Honest error.
- Differences of opinion.
- Conduct that does not significantly depart from accepted practices within the relevant research community.
- A material failure to comply with federal requirements for the protection of human or animal research subjects that is not intentional or grossly negligent.
False allegations of research misconduct that are capricious or malicious and are made from within the College are subject to the appropriate grievance procedures. When made from outside the College, they will be reported to the relevant institutional authorities.
3. Procedure
Formal allegations of research misconduct should be brought to the Dean of Faculty in accordance with sections F, G and H of the College’s Rules of Procedure, and will be addressed in accordance with those Rules of Procedure, with the following modifications, specifications or additions:
- Persons who are not Reed College students, staff or faculty may submit a formal signed allegation of research misconduct to the College through the Dean of Faculty. The Dean of Faculty or a designee will pursue the allegation through sections F, G and H of the College’s Rules of Procedure where appropriate.
- In conjunction with the procedures for investigating research misconduct, the Dean of the Faculty is responsible for complying with applicable federal regulations, including notifying sponsoring agencies, when required, at the appropriate time.
- If at any time, it appears that there is the possibility that the alleged misconduct violated federal, state or local criminal statute, College Counsel must be consulted immediately to determine further action.
- Allegations of research misconduct on the part of the Dean of the Faculty should be submitted to the College through the Chair of the Grievance Review Panel.